DfT lifts veil on 80mph trials

The DfT is developing proposals to trial 80mph speed limits on some sections of motorway “under certain conditions”.

The Commons transport select committee had asked the DfT to explain the reason for its delay in responding to the consultation of last year. The MPs said the Department should spell out the costs of stricter enforcement of an 80mph limit if it decides to press ahead.

The DfT told the MPs it was considering criteria for identifying suitable sections of the motorway...

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Your Comments:

Gavin27 Oct 2012

Has the DfT abandoned any attempt to educate either itself or MPs on the environmental issues of excessive motorway speeds (we should rather be reducing the limit to 60), let alone the driver stress / accident impacts? Or come to that, the highway capacity impacts. Or is the DfT being more subtle than I realise?

I look forward to the time when we start taking out motorway lane capacity and replacing it with High Speed Rail.

Gavin Smith, Bristol

Gavin27 Oct 2012

Has the DfT abandoned any attempt to educate either itself or MPs on the environmental issues of excessive motorway speeds (we should rather be reducing the limit to 60), let alone the driver stress / accident impacts? Or come to that, the highway capacity impacts. Or is the DfT being more subtle than I realise?

It's time to reallocate motorway lane capacity to HSR.

Gavin Smith, Bristol

David29 Oct 2012

The setting of speed limits should not be considered in isolation from enforcement. If the Police are allowed to continue current lax practises the speed limit will effectively be 90mph. This may lead to a wider range of speeds and more accidents. I understood that lower speed limits employed at roadworks and on motorways with variable speed limits enhance capacity by producing more uniform speeds with less lane changing and tail gating.